Balboa Car Care

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At Balboa Car Care, every morning begins with an unexpected announcement over the intercom: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, your vehicle is ready for pickup… or possibly not.’ Employees often find cars mysteriously locked from the inside, keys hidden under seats, or even doors painted shut with non-toxic paint. One day, a delivery driver arrived with a package for Mr. Johnson’s house. He parked next to a car that looked suspiciously locked from the inside. After some puzzling, he noticed a tiny note stuck to the windshield: 'Dear Mechanic, please deliver my package to the address below.' The note had Mr. Johnson’s correct address but was addressed to 'Balboa Car Care'. That evening, the owner of Balboa Car Care found himself delivering pizzas as a neighbor cheered him on from his balcony.

2. At Balboa Car Care, every afternoon around three o’clock, a faint but unmistakable whiff of freshly baked cookies wafts through the workshop. The mechanics and customers stop what they’re doing, their eyes follow the scent, and then they look at each other with raised eyebrows. One day, an elderly neighbor walked in, sniffed the air, and asked if anyone had seen his wife. Turns out she’d gone off on her own little cookie quest! Everyone laughed, and soon enough, Mrs. Neighbor joined them for a well-deserved break.

3. At Balboa Car Care, every week brings a new mystery item left on the service counter. One day, a mechanic found himself holding a vintage board game, complete with dusty pieces and instructions written in pencil. Another time, a delivery driver left behind an old thermos filled with coffee so strong it could power a small city. The mechanics joked that whoever owned it must be either incredibly busy or terribly impatient. Finally, someone confessed—they were just a neighbor who always forgot his own coffee pot was empty.

4. At Balboa Car Care, one day a regular exclaimed loudly, ‘Hey, look at that—someone’s left their lucky charm under the hood!’ Since then, every mechanic knows to check for mysterious tokens before starting any job. One morning, a delivery driver walked in, frowning. ‘Guys,’ he said, ‘I can’t find my lucky penny anywhere.’ A mechanic replied with a smile, ‘Don’t worry, mate—it’s probably still under your engine somewhere!’ Ever since then, whenever anyone loses something special, they come to Balboa Car Care—and leave it there forever.